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Summer is coming to an end and the autumn is nearly upon us.
As the days get shorter and the temperatures – and leaves – start to fall, Brits are being urged to get ready for winter. And there is one job we should all do before the month is out.
The cost of living crisis is still causing huge problems for millions of us. Consequently, it is important that we ensure our bills are as small as possible.
This will be more important than ever for many pensioners after the Labour Government axed winter fuel payments for millions of people. And so any hacks for heating our homes as cheaply as possible will be useful.
To that end, before the month is out, we should – providing it is safe for us to do so – get up in our lofts and check that our roof spaces are properly insulated. Insulation not only keeps our homes warm, but it also helps keep our energy costs down too.
In its page providing advice on how to keep homes warm this winter, the Met Office said: “Make sure that your loft has at least 10-11 inches (270 mm) of insulation. Any home with 4 inches (100 mm) or less should have it topped up.”
There are a number of other jobs and checks the Met Office advises Brits to carry out to ensure homes are winter-ready. These include:
- Fitting or checking draught proofing to seal any gaps around windows and doors
- Ensuring wall cavities are insulated too
- Insulating hot water cylinder and pipes.
- Drawing curtains at dusk to slow down heat loss
- Ensuring radiators are not obstructed by curtains or furniture.
Some financial help is also available for certain people and in certain circumstances.
People in receipt of various benefits will receive a Cold Weather Payment of £25 if the average temperature in their area, between November 1 and March 31, is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days.
Moreover, the Warm House Discount is a one-off payment that gives eligible older and low-income consumers £140 off their energy bill.
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